Aiming for both Structural Integrity and Historical Accuracy
The Gato-class fleet boat USS Cobia (SS-245), a WWII museum sub in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, is heading to Fincantieri in September to undergo essential dry dock maintenance for the first time since 1996. Credited with having sunk a total of 16,835 tons of Japanese shipping across four war patrols, the dry docking will address maintaining her structural integrity.
However, when it comes to restoring and maintaining the historical accuracy of these old fleet boats, the USS Cod museum has been hard at work experimenting with Cobia with in manufacturing replica period submarine parts that have been missing from these vessels for decades.
That’s when 3-D printed replacements come into play.